NORTHAMPTON — The Blue Devils came out on Friday determined to put last year’s mistakes behind them.
No. 6 Northampton girls basketball put in a strong defensive effort to secure a double-digit victory over South High of Worcester, 53-42.
The two programs have grown familiar with one another over the past two seasons, with the Blue Devils losing their semifinal matchup to the Colonels in the 2024 Div. II state tournament.
The two sides met again at the 2025 Hoophall Invitational, where the Colonels rallied from a 16-point halftime deficit to beat the Northampton by one.
Both teams were determined to set the tone defensively from the opening tip. The first few minutes were rocky as a result, with both teams pressuring up the court and forcing turnovers.
Northampton received a big boost with about five minutes remaining in the first when Emme Calkins drilled a three-point shot to put the hosts up four. A minute later, back-to-back succesfull trips to the free-throw line by Keira Cole had the Blue Devils suddenly up by eight.
The Colonels struggled greatly to create open shots, as Northampton’s length challenged the visitors’ every dribble, every pass and every shot attempt. Anna Oravec had six points to help Northampton build a nine-point advantage at the end of the first.
South High improved its defense in the second quarter, restricting the hosts’ offense and doing well to refrain from fouling. A pair of threes from Lydia Charlonne gave the visitors a boost, but the Blue Devils still maintained a six-point lead heading into the break.
The Colonels scored the first basket of the third to cut the deficit to four, but the visitors wouldn’t get any closer the rest of the night. The Blue Devils pulled away again in the closing minutes of the third quarter, restoring their double-digit advantage.
Northampton’s lead grew to as many as 15 after Calkins and Liv Joensen assisted one another on back-to-back threes.
But the Colonels quickly responded with a three from Ava MacCallum, bringing the lead back down to 12. With its defense picking up again, Northampton went cold for the next few minutes and the lead was cut to seven after another three from Charlonne.
“They definitely made their run in the second half, but we really dug deep, we really wanted this game, especially for Coach (Kachelmeyer),” Oravec said. “We just gave it everything for Kach.”
Northampton’s defense held firm in the end, securing a well-earned victory on a night of remembrance and celebration. The school recognized Friday’s game as the inaugural Tim Kachelmeyer Classic. Kachelmeyer previously coached the Blue Devils’ girls basketball program, winning the 2007-2008 Division I state title.
He had returned to the bench in 2022 as an assistant to current head coach, Perry Messer, before passing away from cancer in 2024.
“We want to turn this into (an annual) ‘classic,’ so we’re (offering) a $250 scholarship to every team that comes to it,” Messer said. “We want a senior from every team to be able to get the scholarship award.”
Oravec received the Player of the Game award and a $250 scholarship for her impact on both ends of the court, scoring 16 points while also fulfilling her role as the Blue Devils’ primary rim protector.
“I’m so glad they set this up for us, it was such a good game for us to be able to remember somebody that was a big part of our basketball community,” Oravec said. “Everyone coming out, we’re really thankful for that.
“(Coach Kachelmeyer) would always come over and help us with our form, that was one thing he was always really good at, whether you were a freshman or a senior, he’d come over and help you with your form, or if you came out of the game and you were upset, he’d come sit right next to you and calm me down. He was just a person that was very friendly, always happy and easy to talk to.”
Calkins finished with a game-high 17 points for the Blue Devils, bouncing back nicely with their second double-digit win on the trot following their 40-loss to Minnechaug on Monday.
“Defense, especially help defense (was better tonight), working as a team on that side of the court,” Calkins said.
Northampton (2-1) will look to build on this win when the Blue Devils take on No. 4 South Hadley on Tuesday, Dec. 23 at 7 p.m.
